🎾 Roger Federer, Missed Points, and the Next Best Move in Chess
In 2019, Roger Federer stood on Centre Court at Wimbledon, after nearly five hours of tennis warfare with Novak Djokovic. He had just lost one of the greatest matches of all time. The margin? A handful of points.
Later, when reflecting on his career, Federer shared a surprising truth: even the greatest tennis players win just a little over 50% of the points they play. You could theoretically win fewer than half of the games you play in a season, and still end up lifting the biggest trophies in the sport.
Let that sink in: tennis players spend their careers losing points, but learning not to lose focus.
"You learn to accept that losing points is part of the game," Federer said. "You just focus on playing the next one."
It’s a mindset that has helped the best athletes in the world stay grounded and sharp. And for us chess players, even if we’ve never held a racquet, it might just be one of the most important lessons we can borrow from the sporting world.
If you're learning chess casually or just trying to get better, chances are you’ve already experienced the sting of a blunder. You hang a piece, miss a tactic, or lose a completely winning position. In those moments, the urge to spiral into frustration is real.
And unlike tennis, where the point is over in seconds, in chess, your mistake stares you down from the board, taunting you for the rest of the game.
But here's the thing: chess, like tennis, is not about perfection, it’s about recovering and making the best move next.
Let’s flip Federer’s insight into chess language:
"Even the best chess players make mistakes. What matters is what you do on your next move."
The Psychology of Next-Move Thinking
There’s a cognitive trap many beginners and intermediates fall into: ruminating on the past mistake.
- “Why did I play that?”
- “This game is ruined now.”
- “I always do this.”
It’s a form of self-talk that doesn’t exist in the present moment, and it certainly doesn’t help you find the best move on the board right now.
Compare that to an elite athlete’s mindset. In sport psychology, this is often called "present moment awareness”, a mental skill cultivated by professionals across sports to improve consistency and performance.
Federer, like other champions, didn’t carry the weight of the last point into the next one. And in chess, where one good decision can swing a game back in your favour, this mindset is gold. Unfortunately, this is a personal example of when I couldn't do this.
Making It Practical: How to Train “Next Move Focus”
Here are a few strategies, inspired by sport science and cognitive training, to help you build a Federer-like approach to your chess improvement:
1. Use a “reset breath” after every move 😮💨
This comes from mindfulness and performance routines in elite sports. After you make a move, good or bad, take a small, conscious breath. Let it mark a mental reset. You’re training your mind to let go of the last point.
2. Ask yourself: “What’s the best move now?” 🧠
This question shifts your thinking from emotional rumination to logical analysis. Even if you're down material, your job hasn't changed: find the best move in the position you're in.
3. Review games with curiosity, not judgment 🧩
After a game, analyse your mistakes like a coach, not a critic. Federer didn’t cry over every missed forehand, he looked at what could be adjusted next time. Adopt the same attitude with your blunders.
4. Play shorter time controls to practice bouncing back ⏱️
Rapid and blitz games give you many chances to make a mistake, and recover. Use them as mental training grounds, not just rating boosters. Try focusing on letting go of each loss and entering the next game fresh.
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What Roger Federer Can Teach Casual Chess Learners
You don’t have to be an athlete to train your mind like one.
Roger Federer’s lesson, that greatness is built on the ability to lose points and still stay mentally strong, is something every chess player can apply. Especially those just starting out, where the learning curve can feel steep and frustrating.
The goal isn’t to play perfectly. It’s to get used to imperfection, and to keep your head in the game anyway.
Next time you blunder a piece, miss mate in one, or lose to a lower-rated player, try this:
- Take a breath.
- Don’t judge yourself.
- Look at the board.
- Ask: What’s the best move now?
That’s what Federer would do. And it might be the secret to making your next move your best one yet.
AUTHOR
If you like this blog, consider following along. I am an active chess coach with professional background in strength & conditioning coaching and sports science. I'm passionate about bridging the gap between health & fitness and chess, and showing that chess is a great toolkit for mental longevity.
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